Egon’s first report from Madlib Medicine Show 2012 Europe Tour … The show almost didn’t happen: Freddie’s on the plane, Madlib and I are attempting to talk our way onto the flight as the Lufthansa gate agents reject his passport as an “invalid travel document” when they won’t scan. Fair enough – he had washed it in a pair of jeans. But a pricey mistake – I’m just glad I always book the first flight with an extra day’s cushion. And also glad that we have a good relationship with a passport expediting agency located – of course – close to LAX. They held the office open until we arrived and assured us they would do their best, but it would be a miracle if we could fly the next day.

A rather sleepless night later (more so due to copious amounts of wine consumed at an impromptu dinner at Jeff Jank’s house than nerves), and I awoke at 7 am to hear that things were looking up at the Federal Building. We’d know by 3 pm.

3.30 pm and we were on our way back to LAX with news that the passport had arrived. Too bad that when we arrived we found that our flight had been delayed and we’d miss our connection to Prauge – and, thus, our slot at the festival. Freddie had already arrived.

As I’m thinking of how to call J.Rocc and what I would say to him to step up and DJ in Madlib’s stead, the gate agent suggested that if we flew via Munich we could arrive in Prague a bit after 8 pm. If we cleared customs quickly, we might make it in time for the 10.30 pm set time. Hip Hop Kemp is located in a small city about an hour and a half into the Czech countryside.

We took our chances, boarded the flight and, sixteen hours later, were picked up outside of the airport by, of all people, the head of IT at the airport – and an amateur race car driver. We loaded into his customized BMW M5. He switched on the active seat restraints in the front (and apologized to Madlib, in the back) and asked if we were scared of speed. No, of course not.

Then he proceeded to average 200 KMH through the narrow freeways, only stopping when a recently killed, six foot long wild boar’s corpse caused a minor traffic jam. “What would happen if we hit one of those things going this fast” I asked, as he accelerated? “Oh don’t worry, I normally only see those things in the forest.”

Uh, what about the one we just saw splayed out on the motorway? Madlib’s prog-rock mix CD – phasing in and out as the car’s nav system offered nearly-missed instructions – made the journey even scarier.

But, arrive we did. We headed straight on stage and line checked, and then, there they were: Madlib and Freddie doing what they do best, the former keeping it psychedelic, the latter rapping his ass off in front of what must have been 10,000 folks. Smoke machines going off. Freddie leading many who had no idea what he was saying in a chant of “fuck police” as Czech officers stood at the gates. “Shame” went over particularly well. J.Rocc filmed the proceedings and nodded in approval.

Later in the eve, on the way back to the hotel, we debated Lord Finesse’s lawsuit against Mac Miller with Diamond D and Freddie and Madlib wondered why Czech McDonalds don’t sell Chicken McNuggets but do sell McChicken sandwiches. Myself, I was glad I grabbed a couple bananas from the green room and still had one Europane cookie left over from my flight.

i was at the hiphop kamp show too and maaaan….it was crazy. i’m from germany and my biggest wish was to see madlib…and midgibs live on stage. so i travel by bus to the czech republic. i shoot some videos and pics from the show and i will never forget that night. since i make music madlib was my biggest inspiration…thanks for coming to europe. you guys and the whole stones throw fam hab many fans on this part of the world. thanks

hhk12 wit madlib was sick! he was the reason that i travel to cz! but it was to little mr.jackson voice to hear!!! only “madlib shit” & “u know this shit” (bevor lootpack “skit”)!! i think i hav go to lax!! madlove bj